Back in January, I blogged about Kuru Kuru Japan before it began airing. This is what I wrote then:

In Japanese, kuru kuru means to go round and round. And that’s exactly what our new Kuru Kuru Japan shows are about. Shows that take you all around Japan, with a focus on the delicious foods and interesting places that can be found throughout the country.

Now that Kuru Kuru Japan has been airing for almost two months, I wanted to give you a little more information about it, and also ask for your feedback.

First, the information: Kuru Kuru Japan is the name we gave to a collection of different individual programs that will be airing in this time period. What all of these programs have in common is they focus on delicious foods or interesting places throughout Japan.

We launched Kuru Kuru Japan with a program called Gourmet Japan that was all about different foods. For example, one episode focused on mushrooms and wild vegetables, another on garlic, and still another on mochi (my favorite).

The last five weeks, the program has been Yatata Girls. In these episodes, three women visit different locations in Japan, trying to find the best attractions and foods of the area.

Tonight, a new program titled Rediscover Japan begins in the Kuru Kuru Japan time period. Fans of the Fat Detective series will love this set of programs because the host is the fat detective himself, Hidehiko Ishizuka.

I apologize if it’s been confusing. But there are so many great programs about the foods and places in Japan that we wanted to be able to share them with you and felt the best way was under the Kuru Kuru Japan umbrella.

Please send us your feedback about Kuru Kuru Japan. We look forward to hearing from you.

We started airing another Omiya-san series last night. This is the seventh season of Omiya-san to air on KIKU. The last one (Season 6) aired quite some time ago, in 2011.

Do you like Omiya-san? If you haven’t watched this detective series, please take a look. The main character is Kazaburo Torii, a detective who specializes in solving cold cases. He has an unassuming, innocent look, but behind that is a sharp mind and a super memory that helps him recall facts and details from past crimes and solve the seemingly unsolvable.

Episode one is in two parts; the second half airs next Thursday, 1/19, from 9-10pm.

This Sunday (2/8), we are re-airing a special we aired back in September 2013. It is titled Shiawase, and it’s a heartwarming story about a family held together by its patriarch, Shinichi. Here’s a short description of the show:

Just outside the Sapporo city limits is an area of old buildings where time has come to a standstill. Hidden here is a small, family-run noodle-making business. The father who owns the business, Shinichi, is 70 and a dependable member of the community. Although he has been stepping back from the business as company president, he continues to be a vital part of the company and holds everyone together.

What would happen if he was suddenly gone one day? Would the family be able to stay together? Would the business be able to survive?

Please watch this story about how life can begin again even after deep sorrow and loss. Shiawase begins at 7pm and is 1-1/2 hours long.

The final episode of Strategist Kanbe ran this past Tuesday, and the next Taiga drama does not begin until February 10th, so please tune in for a 1-1/2 hour Oyaji Samurai special on Tuesday, February 3rd.

The special is a prelude to the Oyaji Samurai series, which will begin on Tuesday, February 17th, at 9pm.

You might be interested to learn that the actual title of the special is Oyari Haishaku and the actual title of the series is Yoidore Kotoji. We felt Oyaji Samurai was a more descriptive title for both the special and the series. (FYI, Oyari Haishaku means borrowed spear. Yoidore means drunk, and Kotoji is the name of the main character.) Oyaji is a term that refers to a somewhat older man, sort of like a man who is “over the hill”. You may remember that in the Making It Through series, the band formed by the older men was called The Oyaji Band”.

Oyaji Samurai is about a somewhat shabby, middle-aged, low-ranking, but well-intentioned samurai of small stature named Kotoji Akame. One day, after drinking too much alcohol in a contest, Kotoji fails to wake in time to escort his lord on a journey from Edo back to his home domain. As a result, Kotoji is released from service and becomes a wandering samurai.

To avenge his lord, Kotoji comes up with a scheme to steal the lances — or spears — which are a family’s symbols. Kotoji ends up stealing the lances of several families, which creates an unlikely alliance amongst them as they plot to take revenge on Kotoji.

Kotoji’s drinking does get him into trouble now and then, but he isn’t always drunk. This is why we felt Oyaji Samurai was a more appropriate title.

This is a lighthearted jidaigeki series. Kotoji, although small and a little old, is clever, and this creates unexpected, funny situations.

There is only one more episodes of the 53rd Taiga drama, Strategist Kanbe, remaining. We will air the final episode on Tuesday, January 27th, with a retelecast on Sunday, February 1st.

The next (54th) Taiga drama is titled Hana Moyu, which literally translates to “burning flower”. It is presumed that the burning flower this title refers to is Fumi Sugi, a woman who was part of the Choshu clan from Satsuma Prefecture.

Fumi was a somewhat obscure, behind-the-scenes figure in the Meiji Restoration era. She was the younger sister of Shoin Yoshida, who was a well known educator and activist who helped spur the Meiji Restoriation. Fumi was a strong supporter of her brother, and after he was imprisoned and executed, she continued to influence others to support Shoin’s teachings and philosophies.

Although Fumi was not well-known, her contributions did make a difference to modern day Japan; many of Japan’s future leaders emerged from the Choshu domain, and this can be attributed to her strong spirit and determination behind the scenes. She was truly a burning flower.

Hana moyu begins with a 1-1/2 hour episode on Tuesday, February 10th, 2015, at 8pm.

Were you one of the people who lost electricity on January 2nd? I know my home was without power for at least six hours.

Many of you told us you were not able to watch our New Year’s special, The Stork’s Nest, that night because you were without electricity. In answer to your requests, we will be re-airing the special next Friday night, January 23rd, from 8-10pm.

The Stork’s Nest is about a hospital in Kumamoto City that decided to do something to help single mothers or parents unable to raise their children who were desperate and considering abandoning their children rather than face the stigma of dishonor and shame from society.

The caring directors of the hospital converted part of the facility to accommodate people so they could anonymously deposit unwanted babies, knowing they’d be cared for. Response was overwhelming and soon mothers from across the country were coming to deposit babies at the hospital.

This drama tells the story of the creation of “Stork’s Nest” and depicts the lives of some of the mothers who came to use the “nest”.

In Japanese, kuru kuru means to go round and round. And that’s exactly what our new Kuru Kuru Japan shows are about. Shows that take you all around Japan, with a focus on the delicious foods and interesting places that can be found throughout the country.

In an earlier post, I told you that the Mariko series that begins on Thursday, October 2 at 9pm was the 7th in the series. That is incorrect. It is the 11th in the series! Please be sure to watch it this Thursday.

In other news, Giselle “G” Tongi, host of our Kababayan Today show was in Hawaii this week, taping segments for her show. Kababayan Today airs Monday-Friday, 3:30-4pm and on Sundays from 4-4:30pm right here on KIKU. I’ll be posting about the upcoming Hawaii segments soon.